All Together! Fill the Boat with Beanbags

We lay a long rope on the floor in the shape of a big boat; from the shore, all the children throw their beanbags at the same time to fill it, and on the signal they run together to collect the ones that landed in the water and throw again. They practice throwing as a group without turns and cleaning up as a team.

How to play

1. Together we shape the boat with the rope and stand around it on the shore (2 min).
2. Everyone takes two beanbags; on the drum beat, we all throw into the boat at once (3 min).
3. When we hear "Into the water!" we hop in to collect beanbags that landed outside and go back to shore (3 min).
4. We repeat, taking one step back each time, and when the boat is full we count it on our fingers (3 min).
5. Final cleanup: everyone puts the beanbags in the big bucket singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (2 min).

Rules

• We all throw together when the drum sounds.
• I only pick up beanbags from the water; the ones in the boat stay.
• I carry two beanbags and go back to shore.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child throws from their chair on the shore, and a classmate brings them beanbags from the water.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher pairs the drum with raising both arms.
• Autism: if the noise is too much, they can be the "captain" who counts the beanbags inside instead of throwing in the crowd.

Learning goals

• Throw into a big zone all at once.
• Collect equipment as a team.
• Feel the success of filling the boat together.

Equipment for a class of 25

• long rope: 1
• beanbags: 50
• hand drum

Teacher tip

"Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is a traditional public-domain song that fits perfectly. Make the boat big enough that nobody tosses beanbags onto someone else. It's a noisy game, so always end with a calm cleanup.

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